1965 NBA playoffs

The 1965 NBA playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1964–65 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Division champion Boston Celtics defeating the Western Division champion Los Angeles Lakers 4 games to 1 in the NBA Finals.

Boston won its seventh consecutive NBA title and eighth overall while handing the Lakers their fourth straight Finals loss in the process.

This was the first playoff appearance for the Baltimore Bullets, who had begun play in the 1961–62 season as the Chicago Packers.

Bracket

 * Division winner

Bold Series winner

Italic Team with home-court advantage in NBA Finals

(2) Cincinnati Royals vs. (3) Philadelphia 76ers
This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Royals winning the first two meetings.

(2) St. Louis Hawks vs. (3) Baltimore Bullets

 * Bob Pettit's last NBA game.

This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams.

(1) Boston Celtics vs. (3) Philadelphia 76ers

 * John Havlicek steals the inbounds pass by Hal Greer.

This was the ninth playoff meeting between these two teams, with both teams splitting the first eight meetings when the 76ers were the Syracuse Nationals.

(1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (3) Baltimore Bullets
This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams.

NBA Finals: (E1) Boston Celtics vs. (W1) Los Angeles Lakers

 * Tom Heinsohn's final NBA game.

This was the fourth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Celtics winning the first three meetings.